13 more children die in BRD medical college

A Special Task force of Uttar Pradesh Police has arrested Kafeel Khan, the nodal officer of the 100-bed AES (acute encephalitis syndrome) and the third accused in the mass deaths of children in Gorakhpur's BRD hospital.

The allegations on Dr Khan's role in the tragedy have escalated since the district administration and the UP government's chief secretary conducted their respective inquiries in the case.

Dr Khan was removed over allegations that he was involved in stealing oxygen cylinders from the hospital. The other accused who are on run and non-bailable warrants have been issued against them are: Senior anesthetist Dr Satish, chief pharmacist Gajanan Jaiswal, accountant Sudhir Pandey, assistant clerk Sanjay Kumar Tripathi and gas suppliers Uday Pratap Singh and Manish Bhandari. He was arrested by UP STF on Saturday morning near Kalesar in Sahjanwa when he was on the way to Gorakhpur.

Rajeev and his wife Poornima Mishra were also arrested by the STF in Kanpur and sent to 14-day judicial custody. More than 60 children, mostly infants, died at the hospital within a week last month. Following the deaths cases were registered under various sections of the IPC, Prevention of Corruption Act and the Indian Medical Council Act against the nine.

Dr Khan, head of the Encephalitis Ward at BRD Hospital, has been charged with medical negligence.

The 30 deaths over two days were attributed to shortage of oxygen after a private company cut supply over a payment dispute.

Khan was suspended along with former principal RK Mishra and five others. Both Dr. rajiv Mishra and Dr. Purnima Shukla were booked according to the report submitted to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath by the chief secretary.

Sources said that the doctor, who is one of the nine persons accused of dereliction of duty, was arrested from Vikasnagar in Lucknow and will be taken to Gorakhpur for handing over to the police for further investigation.